"All of Vlad's forces and all of Vlad's men, are out to put Humpty together again." (1 Viewer)

[GTX]

A slight interesting story showing a view far from the battle lines but still affecting people:

https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/inside-tiny-arctic-town-where-russians-and-ukrainians-work-alongside-each-other-in-mines/news-story/32e3b0af497ee3791bd6ae5d6610edf0

 

[buffnut453]

Another precision strike on <Sarcasm: On> clearly a Ukrainian military target <Sarcasm: Off>

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-61518209?ns_mchannel=social&ns_source=twitter&ns_campaign=bbc_live&ns_linkname=6287c33c4259031cb5a24a05%26WATCH%3A%20Missile%20strike%20on%20cultural%20centre%20%27evil%27%20-%20Zelensky%262022-05-20T17%3A22%3A24.276Z&ns_fee=0&pinned_post_locator=urn:asset:542429df-03fa-4bb4-ac9b-aec4a18dec1f&pinned_post_asset_id=6287c33c4259031cb5a24a05&pinned_post_type=share

And here are some pics of the aftermath courtesy of the BBC:

 

[GTX]

The very definition of totalitarianism, and the bridge that connects far left communism to far right fascism, changing the political spectrum into a circular continuum.

It frustrates me when people talk about Communism (in the Soviet/USSR sense) as though it is synonymous with totalitarianism. I really wish that people would see that the USSR and its ilk were nothing more than totalitarian dictatorships that simply wrapped themselves in the veneer of communism. No differently than right wing dictatorships/ideologies such as Falangism and its ilk (including especially many right wing scumbags such as the American religious conservatives) who have wrapped themselves Catholicism/Christianity whilst doing just as many evil/despicable things. They are all in the same bucket though similarly, one should be able to disassociate the real underlying good intentions (be those socialism, good real religious actions) from the scum who mis-appropriate these things for their own twisted intents.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

It frustrates me when people talk about Communism (in the Soviet/USSR sense) as though it is synonymous with totalitarianism. I really wish that people would see that the USSR and its ilk were nothing more than totalitarian dictatorships that simply wrapped themselves in the veneer of communism. No differently than right wing dictatorships/ideologies such as Falangism and its ilk (including especially many right wing scumbags such as the American religious conservatives) who have wrapped themselves Catholicism/Christianity whilst doing just as many evil/despicable things. They are all in the same bucket though similarly, one should be able to disassociate the real underlying good intentions (be those socialism, good real religious actions) from the scum who mis-appropriate these things for their own twisted intents.

To paraphrase Steven Weinberg, without ideology, good people will do good things and bad people will do bad things -- but it takes an ideology to make good people do bad things.

 

[GTX]

The barbaric 'creativity' of Putin's troops in Ukraine: Turning household items into deadly traps

Ukrainian forces pushed out Vladimir Putin's men from the eastern region of Kharkiv but, in the Russian military's wake, they found explosives hidden everywhere, from fields to a child's bedroom.

www.abc.net.au

 

[GTX]

To paraphrase Steven Weinberg, without ideology, good people will do good things and bad people will do bad things -- but it takes an ideology to make good people do bad things.

I accept that but it still frustrates me when I see comments that essentially boil down to simple Communism or Socialism = evil. I would just as easily say that Christianity = evil if I used historic events carried out in its name. Both are wrong though.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

I accept that but it still frustrates me when I see comments that essentially boil down to simple Communism or Socialism = evil. I would just as easily say that Christianity = evil if I used historic events carried out in its name. Both are wrong though.

I think ideologies act so powerfully upon some people not because of the doctrine but because of the individual in question.

 

[GTX]

Russia says troops close to claiming full control of Luhansk

Russia's Defence Minister says Moscow has almost taken full control of Ukraine's south-eastern region of Luhansk, one of two regions it says are independent and has vowed to liberate.

www.abc.net.au

 

[buffnut453]

I think ideologies act so powerfully upon some people not because of the doctrine but because of the individual in question.

Because of the individuals in question....the egotistical leader who uses the ideology for their own purposes and the gullible follower who fails to use reasoning and their own agency to make decisions for themselves.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

I really wish that people would see that the USSR and its ilk were nothing more than totalitarian dictatorships that simply wrapped themselves in the veneer of communism.

If the peanut butter jar says SKIPPY on the label "we of the great unwashed" can be forgiven for assuming that's what's in fact in the jar.

 

[GTX]

If the peanut butter jar says SKIPPY on the label "we of the great unwashed" can be forgiven for assuming that's what's in fact in the jar.

Well it is a duty to read more than the book cover.

 

[MiTasol]

I think plenty of them are thoroughly and happily brainwashed, too. Writing off an entire nation of 144 million people is not only unfair, it's almost certainly wrong, as it's based on slipshod "thinking".

Same applies to another nation of 330 million.

 

[MiTasol]

I accept that but it still frustrates me when I see comments that essentially boil down to simple Communism or Socialism = evil. I would just as easily say that Christianity = evil if I used historic events carried out in its name. Both are wrong though.

Change historic to never ending and you would be more accurate.

Christ taught that discrimination, hatred, racism, etc, etc, etc, are evil yet many self proclaimed Christian churches promote those things as core beliefs in his name.

When offered the chance to join in the murder of a woman who had broken an old testament "law" he refused and said let he who is without sin....... Many modern pseudo Christians want to reintroduce all the old testament evil.

Mods please remove if this is too religious

 

[GTX]

Change historic to never ending and you would be more accurate.

True

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Same applies to another nation of 330 million.

Agreed, such large groups inherently have many different demographics and outlooks within them, far too many and too widely-divergent to judge as a monolithic whole.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Russia says troops close to claiming full control of Luhansk

Russia's Defence Minister says Moscow has almost taken full control of Ukraine's south-eastern region of Luhansk, one of two regions it says are independent and has vowed to liberate.

www.abc.net.au

From your link:

In a speech, Mr Shoigu also said the United States had stepped up strategic bomber flights in recent years, sent warships to the Baltic Sea and intensified training exercises in the region with its NATO partners.

He said Russia would respond by forming new military units and divisions along its western border, and it was working to improve the combat strength of its troops.

I'm sure these troops will know how to fight, lol.

 

[Dimlee]

I think plenty of them sense the fact that their propaganda is bullshit. I think plenty of them are thoroughly and happily brainwashed, too. Writing off an entire nation of 144 million people is not only unfair, it's almost certainly wrong, as it's based on slipshod "thinking".

There is no need for writing off the nation, of course. Just manage the expectations and hope for a better future for that nation. Until that future comes, prepare for the worst that might come from their side and battle what has come already.
I do feel sorry for my fellow Russians. But I know that majority of them, including my friends and even relatives, will not blink if my whole family is wiped from the face of the Earth by Russian weapons. They didn't blink when it happened to thousands of others here in Ukraine.
Most of our former friends and relatives in the Russian Federation, with a few exceptions, did not send a simple "how are you" message to us when our city was under missile strikes. Even worse, one of the aunts of my wife called on day 1 of the invasion to say something like that: "this is for 8 years of your Nazi government bombing the Donbas". "Auntie", my wife said tiredly, "our place just have been attacked". "No!" screamed our kind and lovely aunt, "you know nothing, you are bombed by your nationalists!"
So... until some sunny day. In the meantime, praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

There is no need for writing off the nation, of course. Just manage the expectations and hope for a better future for that nation. Until that future comes, prepare for the worst that might come from their side and battle what has come already.
I do feel sorry for my fellow Russians. But I know that majority of them, including my friends and even relatives, will not blink if my whole family is wiped from the face of the Earth by Russian weapons. They didn't blink when it happened to thousands of others here in Ukraine.
Most of our former friends and relatives in the Russian Federation, with a few exceptions, did not send a simple "how are you" message to us when our city was under missile strikes. Even worse, one of the aunts of my wife called on day 1 of the invasion to say something like that: "this is for 8 years of your Nazi government bombing the Donbas". "Auntie", my wife said tiredly, "our place just have been attacked". "No!" screamed our kind and lovely aunt, "you know nothing, you are bombed by your nationalists!"
So... until some sunny day. In the meantime, praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.

I don't absolve any people, my own included, for the misdeeds committed by their government in their name. I just know that not everyone in any nation approves of what that government may do in their name, so I try to be a bit more nuanced.

I hope the Russian people can find their way to some form of democracy and free expression, but after the two 20th-century failures where revolutions were captured by bad actors, I confess doubt. They deserve better, but they must themselves strive for it too.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I hope the Russian people can find their way to some form of democracy and free expression…

It will never happen. There's something in the Russian sense of self that both holds an inferiority/siege complex and seeks a strongman. It's in their DNA.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

It will never happen. There's something in the Russian sense of self that both holds an inferiority/siege complex and seeks a strongman. It's in their DNA.

DNA doesn't work that way. You're probably thinking of cultural evolution, which is more malleable.